Shower curtain support

ABSTRACT

A shower curtain support for a bathtub-shower installation including a bathtub within a space having wall surfaces at the ends of the tub, a ceiling surface over the tub, and an open side along one side of the tub. The curtain support has a curtain rod with curved inturned ends and mounting bracket means for mounting the rod in position across the open side of the space with the inturned ends of the rod spaced from the wall surfaces to permit shower curtain hooks to slide along the rod from end to end and along its inturned ends for locating the ends of the shower curtain in close confronting relation to the wall surfaces.

United States Patent 1191 Wright 1451 061. 23, 1973 SHOWER CURTAIN SUPPORT Primaryisxamme cham 33 [76] Inventor: Nelpher Wright, 3825 Valley #43, Assistant Examiner-S Riehter walnut Calif 9 7 9 AttorneyB0n1ard I. Brown T221 "h1g6: T116624, 1971" 21 Appl. No.: 156,340 1 ABSTRACT A shower curtain support for a bathtub-shower instal- 52 US. Cl. 4/149, 4/153, 4/154 latien including a bathtub within a i having Wall 51 1m. (:1. A47k 3/14 Sutfeees at the ends of the tub, e eeiling surfaee ever [58 Field 61 Search 4/149, 153, 154 the tub, and an p side along one side of the The curtain support has a curtain rod with curved in- 5 R f r cited turned ends and mounting bracket means for mount- UNITED STATES PATENTS ing the rod in position across the open side of the space with the inturried ends of the rod spaced from temanc a] the wall surfaces to permit shower curtain hooks to 277803O 1957 22%; M149 slide along the rod from end to end and along its in- 2923013 2/1960 wasser' 'a' iiil .1: 4/154 ends locating the ends 0f the Shwet tain in close confronting relation to the wall surfaces.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PAIENTEnnmama 3.766572 SHEETlDF 2 v //V VE/t/ TOR NEL PHEI? M/R/GHT A770m/5y PAIENTEDuuI as new 3. 766; 572

' SHEET 2 OF 2 FIG. 4.

, 205 m/mwm/e A/ELPHER WQ/Gf/T SHOWER CURTAIN SUPPORT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to bathtub-shower installations of the kind having a bathtub and shower head within a space with an open side along the outer side of the bathtub. The invention relates more particularly to an improved shower curtain support for such an installation.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art Bathtub-shower installations of the character described are well known and extensively used in private homes, apartments, and other dwellings. In order to prevent wetting of the floor and walls adjacent the open side of the tub space when showering, a shower curtain is extended across the open side of the space. At the present time, such a shower curtain is supported on a curtain rod which extends between and is secured at its ends to the wall surfaces at the ends of the tub. The

shower curtain is attached to the curtain rod by hooks or rings which slide onthe rod to permit drawing of the shower curtain along the rod.

This type of shower curtain support has one disadvantage which the present invention overcomes. This disadvantage resides in the fact that the ends of the curtain are disposed edgewise relative to the wall surfaces at the ends of the tub. As a consequence, water from the shower spray frequently passes between the curtain ends and the wall surfaces and wets the adjacent floor and wall areas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present improved shower curtain support avoids the above disadvantage of the existing shower curtain rods. To this end, the improved curtain support has a curtain rod with curved ends and mounting bracket means for mounting the rod in position across the open side of the tub space with the curved rod ends extending into the space closely adjacent but spaced from the wall surfaces at the ends of the tub. The mounting bracket means are uniquely constructed to support the curtain rod in such a way that shower curtain hooks may slide along the rod, from one curved rod end to the other, with the open sides of the hooks facing inwardly toward the tub space. When the shower curtain is fully drawn along the curtain rod, the ends of the curtain turn inwardly into close face to face or confronting relation with the wall surfaces at the ends of the tub space. This confronting relation of the curtain to the wall surfaces prevents passage of water from the tub shower spray between the curtain and wall surfaces. The inwardly opening arrangement of the shower curtain hooks presents a neat appearance from the outer side of the shower curtain.

Several different mounting bracket arrangements are disclosed. In one disclosed embodiment, the curtain rod is supported by mounting brackets which are secured to the wall surfaces at the ends of the tub. These brackets are shaped to provide handgrips for aiding persons in entering and leaving the tub. In a second embodiment, the mounting bracket means comprises a bracket rod above the curtain rod secured at its ends to the wall surfaces and having depending bracket arms secured to the curtain rod. A third embodiment comprises hanger rods which are secured at their upper ends to the ceiling surface above the tub and at their lower ends to the curtain rod.

In each embodiment, the mounting brackets have end portions which extend downwardly across the inner side of the curtain rod and then under the rod. This mounting arrangement permits the earlier mentioned placement of the shower curtain hooks with their open sides facing inwardly to the tub space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a bathtub-shower installation with the present shower curtain support in position across the open side of the space;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the curtain support;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of a modified shower curtain support;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of a further modified curtain support; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged section taken on line 7-7 in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIGS. 1-3, the illustrated bathtubshower installation 10 includes a bathtub 12 within a space 14 bounded by wall surfaces 16 at the ends of the tub, a back wall surface 18 along the rear side of the tub, and a ceiling surface (not shown) over the tub. A shower head 20 extends from one end wall surface 16. Tub space 14 has an open side along the side of the tub 12 opposite the back wall surface 18.

A shower curtain support 22 according to the invention is mounted in the open side of the tub space 14. Curtain support 22 includes a curtain rod 24 with a straight mid-section 26 and curved ends 28. Rod 24 extends between the end wall surfaces 16 and across the open side of the tub space 14, a distance above the tub 12. As shown best in FIG. 1, the curtain rod ends 28 turn inwardly into the tub space 14 and terminate in spaced generally parallel relation to the end wall surfaces 16. v

Curtain rod 24 is supported in position by mounting bracket means 30. The particular bracket means shown comprise separate mounting brackets at the ends of the rod. Each mounting bracket is fashioned from a metal bar and has a mounting end portion 32 attached to the adjacent end wall surface 16, outwardly of the curtain rod 24, by fasteners 34 which pass through spaced openings in the mounting portion. The opposite end portion 36 of each bracket forms a bracket arm. This bracket arm extends over and in vertically spaced relation to the curtain rod 24, then downwardly across and in inwardly spaced relation to the inner side of the rod,

- and finally outwardly under the rod. The lower end of rod to a fully extended position wherein the ends of the curtain turn inwardly into close confronting face to face relation with the end wall surfaces 16 to block passage of water spray between the curtain ends and the wall surfaces.

A feature of the mounting brackets 30 resides in the fact that their mounting portions 32 arch outwardly between the fasteners 34. These bracket sections provide handgrips for aiding persons in entering and leaving the tub 12.

The modified shower curtain support 100 of FIGS. 4 and 5 includes a curtain rod 24 like that in FIGS. 1-3. Above and spaced from the rod is a mounting bracket rod 102. This bracket rod extends between the end wall surfaces 16 of the tub space 14, and the rod ends are secured by means 104 to the end wall surfaces.

Spaced along the bracket rod 102 are bracket arms 106. As shown best in FIG. 5, each bracket arm curves under the curtain rod 24 and over the bracket rod 102 and is secured to the underside of the curtain rod and the upper side of the bracket rod by fasteners 108. The bracket arms extend across and in inwardly spaced relation to the curtain rod to permit placement of shower curtain hooks on the rod in the same manner as described in connection with FIGS. 1-3.

In the shower curtain support 200 of FIGS. 6 and 7, the shower curtain rod 24 is supported by mounting brackets 202 in the form of hanger rods. The upper ends of the hanger rods are secured by means 204 to the tub space ceiling surface 206. The lower ends of the hanger rods form bracket arms which extend downwardly across and in inwardly spaced relation to the inner side of the curtain rod 24 and then under the curtain rod. The bracket arms are secured by fasteners 208 to the underside of the curtain rod.

The curtain rods 24 in FIGS. 47 are supported in the same position as the curtain rod in FIGS. 1-3. Accordingly, shower curtains may be supported on the curtain rods and drawn to the same fully extended position as the shower curtain 42 in FIGS. 1-3.

What is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent l. A shower curtain support for a bathtub-shower installation including a bathtub within a space having end wall surfaces at the ends of the tub, a ceiling wall surface over said tub, and an open side along one side of the tub, comprising:

a shower curtain rod to extend between said wall surfaces across the open side of said space and having a normally inner side for facing into said space and a normally upper side for facing said ceiling surface,

said rod having a mid-section and curved inwardly turned ends, whereby the longitudinal axis of said rod defines a plane bisecting the rod into upper and lower 180 portions and mounting means including bracket arms spaced along said rod mid-section having first ends with upwardly facing end surfaces which seat against the underside of said rod mid-section to support said rod, means securing said arm ends to the underside of said rod, said bracket arms extending from the underside of said rod mid-section inwardly beyond the inner side and then upwardly above said midsection in spaced relation to the inner side of said mid-section, and means for attaching the other ends of said bracket arms to at least one of said wall surfaces, and substantially the entire upper portion of said rod being unobstructed by said mounting means, whereby shower curtain hooks may be engaged over and slide along the full length of said rod from the extremity of one curved rod end to the extremity of the other curved rod end without obstruction by said mounting means.

2. A shower curtain support according to claim 1 wherein:

said bracket arm attaching means comprises a bracket rod extending along said curtain rod above and in spaced parallel relation to said curtain rod, and means for securing the ends of said bracket rod to said wall surfaces, and

said bracket arms depend from said bracket rod downwardly across the inner side of said curtain rod and then extend toward and under said curtain rod.

3. A shower curtain support according to claim 1 wherein:

said bracket arms comprise hanger rods having vertical portions whose upper ends comprise said other bracket arm ends, and said bracket arm attaching means comprise means at the upper ends of said hanger rods for securing said hanger rods to said ceiling surface.

4. A shower curtain support for a bathtub-shower installation including a bathtub within a space having wall surfaces at the ends of the tub, a ceiling surface over said tub, and an open side along one side of the tub, comprising:

a shower curtain rod to extend between said wall surfaces across the open side of said space with the inner side of said rod facing into said space,

said rod having a straight mid-section and curved inwardly turned ends,

mounting bracket means for attaching said rod to at least one of said surfaces including bracket arms spaced along said rod having end portions which extend downwardly across and in inwardly spaced relation to said rod and then under said rod, and means securing said end portions to the underside of said rod, whereby shower curtain hooks may be engaged over said rod with the open sides of the hooks facing inwardly relative to said rod and said hooks may slide along the full length of said rod from the extremity of one curved rod end to the extremity of the other curved rod end,

said mounting bracket means comprising separate mounting brackets having mounting portions located at the outer side of said rod adjacent the ends thereof for seating against said wall surfaces and means for securing said mounting portions to said wall surfaces, and

said bracket arms extending from said bracket mounting portions, respectively, over said rod in vertically spaced relation thereto, then downwardly across the inner side of the rod and finally under the rod.

5. A shower curtain support according to claim 4 wherein:

said securing means comprise spaced openings in each bracket mounting portion to receive fasteners for securing the respective mounting portion to its wall surface, and

each bracket mounting portion has an arcuate section between said openings providing a handgrip for aiding a person in entering and leaving said bathtub.

6. In combination:

a bathtub-shower installation including a bathtub within a space having end wall surfaces at the ends of the tub, a ceiling wall surface over said tub, and an open side along one side of the tub,

a shower curtain rod extending between said wall surfaces across the open side of said space with the inner side of said rod facing into said space,

said rod having a mid-section and curved inwardly turned ends whereby the longitudinal axis of said rod defines a plane bisecting the rod into upper and lower 180 portions; and

mounting means including bracket arms spaced along said rod mid-section having first ends with upwardly facing end surfaces which seat against the underside of said rod mid-section to support said rod, means securing said arm ends to the underside of said rod, said bracket arms extending from the underside of said rod mid-section inwardly beyond the inner side and then upwardly above said midsection in spaced relation to the inner side of said mid-section, and means for attaching the other ends of said bracket arms to at least one of said wall surfaces, and substantially the entire upper portion of said rod being unobstructed by said mounting means, whereby shower curtain hooks may be engaged over and slide along the full length of said rod from the extremity of one curved rod end to the extremity of the other curved rod end without obstruction by said mounting means.

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1. A shower curtain support for a bathtub-shower installation including a bathtub within a space having end wall surfaces at the ends of the tub, a ceiling wall surface over said tub, and an open side along one side of the tub, comprising: a shower curtain rod to extend between said wall surfaces across the open side of said space and having a normally inner side for facing into said space and a normally upper side for facing said ceiling surface, said rod having a mid-section and curved inwardly turned ends, whereby the longitudinal axis of said rod defines a plane bisecting the rod into upper and lower 180* portions and mounting means including bracket arms spaced along said rod midsection having first ends with upwardly facing end surfaces which seat against the underside of said rod mid-section to support said rod, means securing said arm ends to the underside of said rod, said bracket arms extending from the underside of said rod mid-section inwardly beyond the inner side and then upwardly above said mid-section in spaced relation to the inner side of said mid-section, and means for attaching the other ends of said bracket arms to at least one of said wall surfaces, and substantially the entire upper 180* portion of said rod being unobstructed by said mounting means, whereby shower curtain hooks may be engaged over and slide along the full length of said rod from the extremity of one curved rod end to the extremity of the other curved rod end without obstruction by said mounting means.
 2. A shower curtain support according to claim 1 wherein: said bracket arm attaching means comprises a bracket rod extending along said curtain rod above and in spaced parallel relation to said curtain rod, and means for securing the ends of said bracket rod to said wall surfaces, and said bracket arms depend from said bracket rod downwardly across the inner side of said curtain rod and then extend toward and under said curtain rod.
 3. A shower curtain support according to claim 1 wherein: said bracket arms comprise hanger rods having vertical portions whose upper ends comprise said other bracket arm ends, and said bracket arm attaching means comprise means at the upper ends of said hanger rods for securing said hanger rods to said ceiling surface.
 4. A shower curtain support for a bathtub-shower installation including a bathtub within a space having wall surfaces at the ends of the tub, a ceIling surface over said tub, and an open side along one side of the tub, comprising: a shower curtain rod to extend between said wall surfaces across the open side of said space with the inner side of said rod facing into said space, said rod having a straight mid-section and curved inwardly turned ends, mounting bracket means for attaching said rod to at least one of said surfaces including bracket arms spaced along said rod having end portions which extend downwardly across and in inwardly spaced relation to said rod and then under said rod, and means securing said end portions to the underside of said rod, whereby shower curtain hooks may be engaged over said rod with the open sides of the hooks facing inwardly relative to said rod and said hooks may slide along the full length of said rod from the extremity of one curved rod end to the extremity of the other curved rod end, said mounting bracket means comprising separate mounting brackets having mounting portions located at the outer side of said rod adjacent the ends thereof for seating against said wall surfaces and means for securing said mounting portions to said wall surfaces, and said bracket arms extending from said bracket mounting portions, respectively, over said rod in vertically spaced relation thereto, then downwardly across the inner side of the rod and finally under the rod.
 5. A shower curtain support according to claim 4 wherein: said securing means comprise spaced openings in each bracket mounting portion to receive fasteners for securing the respective mounting portion to its wall surface, and each bracket mounting portion has an arcuate section between said openings providing a handgrip for aiding a person in entering and leaving said bathtub.
 6. In combination: a bathtub-shower installation including a bathtub within a space having end wall surfaces at the ends of the tub, a ceiling wall surface over said tub, and an open side along one side of the tub, a shower curtain rod extending between said wall surfaces across the open side of said space with the inner side of said rod facing into said space, said rod having a mid-section and curved inwardly turned ends whereby the longitudinal axis of said rod defines a plane bisecting the rod into upper and lower 180* portions, and mounting means including bracket arms spaced along said rod mid-section having first ends with upwardly facing end surfaces which seat against the underside of said rod mid-section to support said rod, means securing said arm ends to the underside of said rod, said bracket arms extending from the underside of said rod mid-section inwardly beyond the inner side and then upwardly above said mid-section in spaced relation to the inner side of said mid-section, and means for attaching the other ends of said bracket arms to at least one of said wall surfaces, and substantially the entire upper 180* portion of said rod being unobstructed by said mounting means, whereby shower curtain hooks may be engaged over and slide along the full length of said rod from the extremity of one curved rod end to the extremity of the other curved rod end without obstruction by said mounting means. 